ProElite 2 takes place Nov. 5 at iWireless Center in Moline, Ill. The main card airs on HDNet.

Kraniotakes was tapped a replacement just this past week when Sylvia’s original opponent, Pedro Rizzo, suffered a partial tear of his left triceps tendon. The German fighter has competed exclusively overseas, where most events are unsanctioned because of a lack of regulatory bodies. However, his 12-4 record was built in known organizations, and his fight results had been verified by the major MMA databases.

Still, it wasn’t enough for the Illinois commission to clear him initially.

“The commission wouldn’t give me a license for some reason no one understands,” Kraniotakes said in a video that since has been removed from his website. “I think the people making those decisions probably don’t know anything about the sport. I did everything I could do, my management did everything it could do, and ProElite did everything it could do to make the fight happen, but the commission just said no.”

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.